07. Melvin Upchurch - From Military to Real Estate Success

09. Ernest Garcia - From Employee to Entrepreneur

Becoming an entrepreneur could be the key to having more freedom and control in your life. Ernest Garcia is an entrepreneur who owns two Hotworx fitness studios and shares his journey of leaving a long and successful career as a Mercedes mechanic and jumping into entrepreneurship. The difference between owning your own business and having a stable career as an employee can be a life-changer, but both options suit different types of people. Entrepreneurship can be a more stressful option that requires a different level of presence depending on the type of business, but it can also offer you more freedom and time with your family. The key trade-off is that you may lack the stability you receive as an employee, but your business is infinitely scalable as an entrepreneur, and if you put in the work, you can continue to grow. Take the reins in your life and begin your journey to more freedom and fulfillment with entrepreneurship! 👶 A family friend adopted Ernest as an infant: he met his mom at his high school graduation.   01:13 👉 He didn’t know how his biological father was until last year. 04:32 🚘 Ernest loved cars and went to automotive school: went to the Mercedes Benz program at 19. 10:34 🔧 Moved from Texas to Alabama to work at the Hoover Mercedes and stayed there for 15 years. 12:44 🤔 The decision to leave the company: all he wanted is more freedom and less stress in his life. 18:08 ✌️ Ernest was building relationships with customers and servicing their cars with honesty: Bruce loves confidence and a huge amount of care invested in him as a client. 28:19 😇 Conversations with leaders and the GM: support from colleagues to start a new gig. 32:04 🏋️‍♀️ Hotworx 3D training contains infrared + heat + exercise: a 24-hour studio with different rooms for different kinds of workouts. 37:11 🔥 The benefits of being heated while exercising: hyperthermic therapy increases the number of calories spent while training. 39:32 😎 The difference in stress levels between being an entrepreneur and being an employee: managing employees.  42:44 📈 Being scalable is the key: you can’t scale one mechanic but you can scale a franchise. 47:15 🎯 A key to being a great entrepreneur - find a problem, fix it, and be good to your customers. 49:08 ✨ Missing the people from the old workplace but not the work itself: being an entrepreneur who spends time with his young family is the key for Ernest. 51:12 Links: Hotworx: https://www.hotworx.net/studio/birmingham-midtown [https://www.hotworx.net/studio/birmingham-midtown] https://www.hotworx.net/studio/birmingham-leebranch [https://www.hotworx.net/studio/birmingham-leebranch]  3D training: https://www.hotworx.net/blog/3d-training [https://www.hotworx.net/blog/3d-training]   🖥️ Connect with Bruce: www.ontargetleading.com [http://www.ontargetleading.com]  🔗 Get in touch with Bruce: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339]

08. Steven Ross Suns - Miracle of Fighting Addiction and Winning

☹️ Steve's dad died when he was 15: Steve started drinking and using pot and cocaine at 17. 03:24 🛑 Addicts are burning bridges for drugs, changing jobs, and stealing money. 10:20 🤯 Steve found a doctor who would prescribe all the pills he needed. 16:09 💰 Steve became a heavy addict: spending $86,000 on drugs in six months. 18:38 🧪 Asking the mother for help: Steve’s tricks to faking a clean drug test.  23:56  🚚 Driving a big truck stoned: people realized something is not right. 28:27 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Married to an addict and had two little kids: using oxycodone. 33:14 💉 First time using heroin - love at first sight. 39:20 🥀 Being addicted to heroin means neglecting your children because of drugs: Steve overdosed and ended up in the hospital. 42:15 💊 Halfway house helped Steve find a job: he was getting high every day. 48:51 💀 ‘Deceased male’ with no pulse: Steve reacted badly to one heroin hit and ended up in prison.  51:15 👇 When people closest to you don’t want to help you: hitting rock bottom. 55:05 🆘 Trying to get help, ended up in Foundry Ministries: Tim helped with the recovery.  58:19 💼 Foundry Ministries helps addicts in a year-long program: Steve stayed on as a staff member, got divorced, and gained custody over both kids. 01:05:53 ❤️ Steve learned his lesson fighting the disease of addiction.   01:08:12 👨‍👦‍👦 Being a single dad: temporary custody and new marriage.  01:10:28 👨‍✈️ A little bit of tough love is the way to go if your kids are going down the addiction road: a new career Steve is passionate about. 01:13:34 ✈️ Pilots need a little good wind and some help from friends: surround yourself with people that constantly make you better.  01:16:00 ❌ Steve's a great mentor: remember drugs are not a person. 01:18:13 Links  👉 Connect with Steve: rangermansuns@gmail.com [rangermansuns@gmail.com]   🎯 Connect with Bruce: www.ontargetleading.com [http://www.ontargetleading.com]   ⏩ Get in touch with Bruce: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339]

07. Melvin Upchurch - From Military to Real Estate Success

👦 Melvin's beginnings in a family of 6 were poor but proud: this formed who he is today.  02:00 🚲 Earning first money for a bike. 05:10  ✌️ With no money for college, no family, and no self-respect, Melvin was a fat slob in the military. 09:17 📘 An old book about positive thinking helped Melvin get serious: he got a military promotion and got to go to college! 14:14 🎓 At 19, he started taking college night classes, served in the Air Force, and found a grant. 18:08 💰 Melvin was at the top in accounting and started working for top money, but his personality didn't fit in. 20:02 ❤️ Few job changes, seven years in a bank, and a decision to work by himself: "I've got to follow what my heart tells me to do."  22:53 🏘️ Stock prices rising and focus on real estate: Melvin flipped 150 houses. 27:10 🏠 Helping the pastor sell a house and opening an online real estate company. 34:00 ❓ What sells the house? The answer to this question got them extra money. 36:30 🤝 The goal was to find people that were looking for an alternative because the alternative was for sale. 41:30 👬 One reason people go to real estate agents: the relationship component affects decision-making. 43:13 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 It's all about good family business decisions. 47:45 📓 Book recommendation for every entrepreneur: The E-Myth Revisited by Peter Gerber. 52:00 🎯 Focus on marketing and attracting the right agents. 55:00 🐺 There are two wolves inside of us, the winner is the one we feed. 56:34 ☕ Buy mentors a cup of coffee and ask them for help: 'I would bend over backward to help a hard-working young person that wants to get ahead in life.' 57:58 👁️ If you're in a business, and it's not working for you, you might want to take a look in the mirror. 1:01:24 Links: 👉 Connect with Melvin: www.linkedin.com/in/melvinupchurch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melvinupchurch/]   🏘️ Melvin’s Real Estate Company: www.listbirmingham.com [https://www.listbirmingham.com/]  🖥️ Connect with Bruce: www.ontargetleading.com [http://www.ontargetleading.com]   🔗 Get in touch with Bruce: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339 [http://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339]

06. Michael Bell - How a Reluctant Entrepreneur Built a Highly Successful Ad Agency

🥃 Friend and Bruce’s first client: Judge Roy’s Bean bourbon made sure this conversation gets smooth. 01:39  🏌️‍♂️ Michael planned on marketing for his path: an internship that changed his life.  03:37 👨 Never had any idea that he would work in an ad agency: the bigger the client is, the slower the process. 10:37 👨‍💼 Michael becomes an entrepreneur: working with small businesses for 15 years. 13:09 🤔 What is the difference between an entrepreneur and a business owner? 14:25 1️⃣ The first lesson he learned in year one: nothing is what he thought it would be. 16:20 🙃 A good year cut with a horrible year: Poetic Moment when Bruce came in. 17:30 ⚡ Gut check for Michael: the new opportunity that came out of nowhere. 20:09 ⚠️ Bruce can coach anybody, but advising is not that simple: all of Michael’s struggles. 23:14 ✅ Who comes in and out of your life, sees your work, and appreciates the product you're producing? 25:53 💪 Correlation between fitness and leadership: if you truly love your children, put yourself first. 29:30 🏋️‍♂️ The importance of working out every morning for Michael: energy and mental clarity. 37:48 📈 Dealing with rejection: working with people who are a good fit is the senior level of entrepreneurship. 41:22 👍 Modern Brand became a hybrid office after Covid:  keeping the talents within the company. 47:53 🌟 The “walk by my computer'' moment is lost in the hybrid environment: seeing each other benefits humans. 54:15 👉 Personality types also play a big role: introverts dislike being in the office. 58:50 🤣 Your Dad wrote a nepotism clause: we can’t hire you. 1:02:45 🤓 Inspiration for entrepreneurial changes through time: from ego to soft skills, and caring for others. 1:06:17 Links:  👉 Connect with Michael: www.themodernbrand.com/about [https://www.themodernbrand.com/about]  🎯 Get your leadership to the next level: www.ontargetleading.com [https://ontargetleading.com/] 👨‍🦲 Get in touch with Dr. Bruce: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339/]

05. Building a Six-Figure Business at 21 Years Old with Bruce Bright Jr.

👦 First experience with entrepreneurship: selling paracord bracelets at the age of 12. 01:31 💡 All the jobs and entrepreneurial ideas Bruce Jr. started with his high school friends. 06:32 💪 If you want to have a good father-son relationship, spend a weekend in the woods with your kid and Boy Scouts. 08:00 🏀 College time: selling online basketball program through Elevate Basketball Academy and the biggest lesson he learned about business. 12:32 🚘 The first time Bruce Jr. vacuumed his car: a new business idea. 17:38 👨‍💻 YouTube tutorials on detailed car washing: Facebook, Google ads, and flyers. 22:46 🧒 Bruce's first work at 11 with his friend Greg Stanley.  24:52 🤩 Scaling is important: not being on the spot but still making money is the sweetest thing on the planet. 27:57 📈 Getting tips from his mentors and friends: hiring people and raising prices. 34:33 💦 Bruce’s first experience with a Ford Transit: having your own professional vehicle with a water tank and pro equipment. 36:16 🌟 New focus is ceramic coating jobs and monthly premium programs. 41:09 📘 His book F* a 9 to 5: Freedom of his time was important to Bruce. 47:36 🥳 New business idea: Greek Fest - America College Party Tour. 50:08 😎 Bruce wrote a guide about creating a business in his book: course and Zoom questions. 54:33 😇 “When your father asks you to do something, it's best that you do it.”  57:34 Links  🧽 Bright Mobile Detailing: www.brightmobiledetailing.com/insta-quote [https://www.brightmobiledetailing.com/insta-quote]   🖼️ Instagram Gallery: www.instagram.com/bright_mobile_detailing [https://www.instagram.com/bright_mobile_detailing/]  📘 Book: https://tinyurl.com/FA9to5 [https://tinyurl.com/FA9to5]  🎙️ Podcast: www.adventuresofanentrepreneur.co [https://adventuresofanentrepreneur.co/]  🔗 Connect with Dr. Bruce:www.ontargetleading.com [https://ontargetleading.com/]  🖥️ Get in touch with Dr. Bruce: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-bruce-bright-1098339/]